Millions of beanbag chairs recalled due to suffocation risks

Sept. 9, 2014—Beanbag chairs can seem ideal for small children—they don’t have rough edges or sharp corners that turn into hazards when little ones fall. However, these chairs can be dangerous when they’re made improperly.

Case in point: More than 2 million beanbag chairs produced by Ace Bayou Corporation are being recalled after two children suffocated from lack of air and inhaling the foam beads inside.

The problem with the chairs

According to voluntary standards, nonrefillable beanbag chairs like these should be made with permanently closed zippers. But these chairs have workable zippers, so kids can access the tiny foam beads inside.

Two children—a 13-year-old boy and a 3-year-old girl—crawled into opened bags. They both suffocated inside and died.

How to recognize the chairs

The beanbag chairs under recall are either round or L-shaped. The round chairs are 30, 32 and 40 inches in diameter. The L-shaped chairs are 18 inches wide, 30 inches deep and 30 inches high.

They were sold in a variety of colors prior to July 2013 and cost between $30 and $100.

The tag on the cover seam reads ACE BAYOU CORP. The bags were made in China.

Check any beanbag chairs in your house to see if this recall applies. If so:

Take the chairs out of use. Put them in a place where no one can get to them.

Contact Ace Bayou for a free repair kit. (You don’t need a receipt.) You can call the company at 855.571.8151 from 7 a.m to 3:30 p.m. Central time, Monday through Friday. Or request the kit online here.

When your kit arrives, grab a pair of household pliers and follow the instructions, which Ace Bayou says are easy to follow. When you’re done, the zippers won’t open or close.

The take-home message

This recall only applies only to a specific manufacturer. But any beanbag chair with zippers that open up to reveal the stuffing inside could be dangerous for little ones. If you have any chairs that work like this, they shouldn’t be used around children.